Running for Council

Elections are held in November of even numbered years with Council seats up for election on an alternating basis. Councilmember and Mayoral terms are limited to two consecutive, four-year terms.

The November 2020 election will be for Councilmembers representing Districts 1, 2, 4 and 6.

How do I become a candidate?

The Town Clerk is the designated election official for the Town and will work closely with you throughout the campaign and election process. For those considering running for Mayor or Town Council, the Candidate Orientation Packet will be a helpful resource document.

Candidate eligibility

Candidates must be citizens of the United States

Candidates must be registered electors of the Town

Candidates are prohibited from being a paid employee of the Town at the time of election and throughout their term of office

Candidates must have resided in the Town for 12 consecutive months preceding the date of the election and throughout their term of office

Councilmember candidates must also be a resident within their district boundaries at the time of nomination and throughout their term of office

Candidate committee

Candidates are required to register their committee with the Town Clerk prior to accepting campaign contributions or making expenditures in support of their candidacy. Candidate committees may register at any time. A candidate shall have only one candidate committee.

Formation of a candidate committee requires a separate bank account to be established in the name of the committee prior to accepting contributions or having expenditures. Candidate committees are required by the Fair Campaign Practices Act to file periodic financial reports.

Nomination petition

Nomination petitions may begin circulation 91 days prior to the date of the election to obtain signatures to place a candidate on the ballot. Deadline to file petitions with the Town Clerk is 71 days prior to the election date.

Councilmember candidates are required to obtain signatures of at least twenty-five registered electors residing within the nominee's district

Registered electors may only sign one Councilmember nomination petition for a candidate for the district in which the elector resides

Mayoral candidates are required to obtain signatures of at least ten registered electors from each of the six election districts

Registered electors may only sign one nomination petition for Mayor

Registered electors may sign both a Councilmember petition and a Mayor petition

Nomination petitions for Mayor and Councilmembers must be personally circulated by the candidate

Additional circulator instructions

Please have individuals sign petition in either blue or black ink

Petition sections may not be disassembled

Individuals must complete all information sections on the petition form

Individuals should sign their name as they are registered to vote as (use legal name, avoid nicknames)

Individuals current address must be a street address (no post office box addresses will be accepted)

Individuals making a correction or a change to the petition must initial the change made

The Town Clerk will verify the nomination petition contains the requisite number of valid signatures to be placed on the ballot as a candidate. If a candidate files a nomination petition that does not have the requisite number of valid signatures, the candidate may have an opportunity to circulate additional petitions to meet the signature requirements prior to the deadline.

Acceptance / affidavit of nominated candidate

At the point the nomination petition is filed with the Town Clerk, the candidate shall also file the Acceptance/Affidavit of Nominated Candidate acknowledging:

The affidavit must be notarized by a notary other than the Town of Castle Rock prior to filing with the Town Clerk.

Candidate name placement on ballot

The order that candidate names appear on the ballot is determined by lot. A drawing will be held by the Town Clerk after submitted nomination petitions have been verified to have the requisite number of valid signatures.